UCLA's Mbah Moute staying ... in the NBA draft

LOS ANGELES -- Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, who started for UCLA in three consecutive Final Fours, will not be back to make a run at a fourth despite questions regarding his draft stock.

The 6-foot-7 forward told UCLA coach Ben Howland on Monday that he would remain in the NBA draft, less than an hour before the deadline to withdraw and return for his senior season.

‘'I feel like I had a good career at UCLA and I just feel that I want to take on a new challenge, going to the NBA and playing at the highest level,'' Mbah a Moute said. ‘'I've heard a bunch of stuff, from late first round to second round to late second round. I'm pretty confident that it will work out. That's what I'm here for. I feel pretty good with the feedback that I have so far.''

Mbah a Moute has worked out for Chicago, Milwaukee, Charlotte and on Monday, the Dallas Mavericks. He has workouts scheduled with Portland and Detroit.

And he acknowledged he is taking a risk. He was honorable mention on the All-Pac-10 team and defensive team this past season, but was only fifth on the Bruins in scoring with 8.8 points per game and struggled throughout his UCLA career to gain consistency with his jump shot.

‘'There's obviously a gamble,'' he said. ‘'There's nothing guaranteed. I'm not going out in the first round for sure. So obviously there's a little gamble going on, but I feel pretty confident with my skills, my mindset and my mental toughness. Whatever it's going to take for me to make a team or whatever, I think I have all those things. I'm pretty confident about making a team.''

While a second-round selection comes with no financial guarantee, increasingly NBA teams are giving second-round picks guaranteed contracts - the last three players from UCLA that were second-round picks all did, at the league minimum.

Ryan Hollins, who was the 50th overall selection by Charlotte in 2006, was paid $412,718; Dijon Thompson, who went 54th in 2005 to the New York Knicks and later was traded to Phoenix, was paid $398,762; and Trevor Ariza, who was the 43rd pick in 2004, was paid $385,277.

Mbah a Moute's defensive ability obviously will make him attractive to some NBA teams - he has defended point guards, shooting guards, small and power forwards.

But the right team and system has to find him.

‘'Luc is the kind if player that, I think, will be appreciated more by a coach than a scout,'' Howland said. ‘'What I mean by that, the intangibles that he brings to the table are truly special and you don't see that in a one-day workout, you see them everyday, having him in your program day after day, bringing his work ethic and his discipline and how he sacrifices, all the little things.

‘'I think, provided he gets in the right situation, the coaches that end up working with him in their summer league are really going to appreciate him.''

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